Mummers strut for 125th time

The Mummers strutted up Broad Street in Philadelphia on New Years Day, as they have every year for 125.

Creeping up to 40 degrees, the weather was in the Mummers' favor this year.

Many of the comic brigades took a dark turn, with dancing skeletons, dancing zombies, dancers in medical scrubs strutting with skeletons, and at least two brigades riffing on the end of the world and the Mayan calendar. The Twelve Steppers had an "apo-calypso" theme.

Turnout seemed relatively light. The sidewalk crowds could be easily navigated, and at 11AM there were even tables available at the Starbucks at Broad and Pine.

A crowd gathered at the fire station at Broad Street at Bainbridge because string bands pause to perform there. They were each welcomed by Fire Chief Chuck Herran, in full formal uniform donning a series of silly hats. The lifelong Philadelphian was only too happy to dance in the street.

"The string bands, ever since 9/11, their tradition has been to come up and serenade the fire house, due to the large loss of firefighters in New York," said Herran. "We usually go out and meet the captain and we ask to give us a song. This is tradition that's been going on now for 12 years."

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